Ange Postecoglou won five trophies in two seasons at Scottish club Celtic. PA
Ange Postecoglou won five trophies in two seasons at Scottish club Celtic. PA
Ange Postecoglou won five trophies in two seasons at Scottish club Celtic. PA
Ange Postecoglou won five trophies in two seasons at Scottish club Celtic. PA

Ange Postecoglou 'brings positive mentality' to Tottenham after signing four-year deal


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Tottenham Hotspur officially announced Ange Postecoglou as their new manager on Tuesday.

The 57-year-old, who becomes the first Australian to manage in the Premier League, won the domestic treble with Celtic last season and leaves the Scottish side after winning five trophies in two years.

Postecoglou takes over from Antonio Conte who left the North London club in March, with Cristian Stellini and then Ryan Mason taking temporary charge until the end of the season.

Spurs finished eighth in the Premier League meaning they will not be playing European football next season for the first time since the 2009/10 campaign.

Postecoglou has signed a four-year contract and will officially start his new role on July 1, while the club said in a statement that his coaching staff will be confirmed “in due course”.

“Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play. He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our club,” said Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on the club's website.

“We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead.”

Last season, Postecoglou became one of only five managers – along with Jock Stein, Martin O'Neill, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon – to secure a domestic clean sweep with Celtic.

Peter Lawwell, Celtic's chairman, said in a statement on the club's website: “Against any measure, Ange has delivered a fantastic level of success to Celtic and we thank him for his brilliant contribution to the club during the past two years.

Spurs 2022/23 season player ratings

  • TOTTENHAM SEASON RATINGS: Antonio Conte - 5. His 16 months in charge ended in the usual acrimony that is now standard for the abrasive Italian. Blamed the board and the players for below-par performances and results but never himself. Spurs were fourth when he left in March and finished eighth, but even that feels a false position. AFP
    TOTTENHAM SEASON RATINGS: Antonio Conte - 5. His 16 months in charge ended in the usual acrimony that is now standard for the abrasive Italian. Blamed the board and the players for below-par performances and results but never himself. Spurs were fourth when he left in March and finished eighth, but even that feels a false position. AFP
  • Cristian Stellini 2 - Asked to step into the breach when Conte was sacked, fellow Italian Stellini largely used the same personnel and implemented the same tactics that doomed Conte. The nadir was the 6-1 loss to Newcastle, in which Spurs trailed 5-0 at half time. A disastrous four games in charge. AFP
    Cristian Stellini 2 - Asked to step into the breach when Conte was sacked, fellow Italian Stellini largely used the same personnel and implemented the same tactics that doomed Conte. The nadir was the 6-1 loss to Newcastle, in which Spurs trailed 5-0 at half time. A disastrous four games in charge. AFP
  • Ryan Mason 4 - Says he wants the manager's job full-time but has shown few signs he is capable of making Spurs top-four challengers again. Would be better served cutting his teeth in the lower leagues for now. PA
    Ryan Mason 4 - Says he wants the manager's job full-time but has shown few signs he is capable of making Spurs top-four challengers again. Would be better served cutting his teeth in the lower leagues for now. PA
  • Hugo Lloris 2 - A catalogue of errors had many questioning the Frenchman's place in the team even before the horror show against Newcastle. Was replaced at half-time in that match and looks likely to have played his last game for the club. PA
    Hugo Lloris 2 - A catalogue of errors had many questioning the Frenchman's place in the team even before the horror show against Newcastle. Was replaced at half-time in that match and looks likely to have played his last game for the club. PA
  • Fraser Forster 5 - Ended the season as first choice due to Lloris' awful form. Is not the long-term solution to Spurs' goalkeeper problems. Getty
    Fraser Forster 5 - Ended the season as first choice due to Lloris' awful form. Is not the long-term solution to Spurs' goalkeeper problems. Getty
  • Cristian Romero 4 - A raging bull before the World Cup and a headless chicken after it. Clearly an excellent defender but needs to cut out dallying on the ball and wild challenges. EPA
    Cristian Romero 4 - A raging bull before the World Cup and a headless chicken after it. Clearly an excellent defender but needs to cut out dallying on the ball and wild challenges. EPA
  • Eric Dier 5 - Like Romero, his form pre-World Cup was excellent and forced him back into England's squad. After that Dier reverted to the inconsistent form that has largely blighted his Tottenham career. EPA
    Eric Dier 5 - Like Romero, his form pre-World Cup was excellent and forced him back into England's squad. After that Dier reverted to the inconsistent form that has largely blighted his Tottenham career. EPA
  • Davinson Sanchez 4 - Evidence of the disconnect between the team and fans was on full display in the defeat against Bournemouth when the Colombian was booed when coming on as a sub and again when he was replaced later in the match. Getty Images
    Davinson Sanchez 4 - Evidence of the disconnect between the team and fans was on full display in the defeat against Bournemouth when the Colombian was booed when coming on as a sub and again when he was replaced later in the match. Getty Images
  • Clement Lenglet 3 - The Frenchman seems to lack positional awareness and is too often reactive instead of proactive. Would be a shock if Spurs tried to make his loan deal from Barcelona permanent. Getty
    Clement Lenglet 3 - The Frenchman seems to lack positional awareness and is too often reactive instead of proactive. Would be a shock if Spurs tried to make his loan deal from Barcelona permanent. Getty
  • Ben Davies 6 - Probably Spurs' most dependable performer in a season when the defence proved too brittle. PA
    Ben Davies 6 - Probably Spurs' most dependable performer in a season when the defence proved too brittle. PA
  • Japhet Tanganga 2 - Made only four Premier League appearances despite Spurs having one of the worst defensive records in the top half of the Premier League. Hard to see a future for him at the club. PA
    Japhet Tanganga 2 - Made only four Premier League appearances despite Spurs having one of the worst defensive records in the top half of the Premier League. Hard to see a future for him at the club. PA
  • Emerson Royal 6 - An underwhelming start to the campaign showed encouraging signs as the season progressed. Needs better end product but has the capacity to improve. AFP
    Emerson Royal 6 - An underwhelming start to the campaign showed encouraging signs as the season progressed. Needs better end product but has the capacity to improve. AFP
  • Pedro Porro 6 - Fine performances against Spurs in the Champions League prompted the North London club to sign the Spanish right-back in January. Scored a stunner in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United. EPA
    Pedro Porro 6 - Fine performances against Spurs in the Champions League prompted the North London club to sign the Spanish right-back in January. Scored a stunner in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United. EPA
  • Ryan Sessegnon 5 - Looks a fine player until he's asked to do something with the ball. At 23 still has plenty of time to improve and if he can work on supplying more quality into the box can be a real asset. EPA
    Ryan Sessegnon 5 - Looks a fine player until he's asked to do something with the ball. At 23 still has plenty of time to improve and if he can work on supplying more quality into the box can be a real asset. EPA
  • Ivan Perisic 6 - The veteran Croatian has the quality on the ball Sessegnon lacks. One of Spurs' better performers but at 34 hardly one for the future. PA
    Ivan Perisic 6 - The veteran Croatian has the quality on the ball Sessegnon lacks. One of Spurs' better performers but at 34 hardly one for the future. PA
  • Oliver Skipp 5 - An injury-plagued campaign for the young midfielder. Offers bite and tenacity. Getty Images
    Oliver Skipp 5 - An injury-plagued campaign for the young midfielder. Offers bite and tenacity. Getty Images
  • Yves Bissouma 4 - Another who had a season disrupted by injury but never replicated the form he showed at Brighton in the games he did manage. Spurs fans keen to see the Malian marauder in full flow next term. PA
    Yves Bissouma 4 - Another who had a season disrupted by injury but never replicated the form he showed at Brighton in the games he did manage. Spurs fans keen to see the Malian marauder in full flow next term. PA
  • Rodrigo Bentancur 5 - Spurs missed the Uruguayan's drive and quality after he was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury in February. PA
    Rodrigo Bentancur 5 - Spurs missed the Uruguayan's drive and quality after he was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury in February. PA
  • Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 7 - The Dane added goals and assists to his game and is a rare heartbeat in a team that flatlined too often. PA
    Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 7 - The Dane added goals and assists to his game and is a rare heartbeat in a team that flatlined too often. PA
  • Pape Sarr 4 - The Senegalese's shortcomings were exposed against Arsenal and even more ruthlessly against Newcastle - which both ended in drubbings for Spurs. Getty Images
    Pape Sarr 4 - The Senegalese's shortcomings were exposed against Arsenal and even more ruthlessly against Newcastle - which both ended in drubbings for Spurs. Getty Images
  • Lucas Moura 3 - The hero of Amsterdam endured a disappointing final season in North London. Sent off against Everton minutes after coming on as a sub and a poor touch that led to Liverpool snatching a dramatic late win were the lowlights. Both results cost Spurs dear in their push for a European spot, though he did leave fans with one more memory with a solo goal in the 4-1 win against Leeds on the final day. PA
    Lucas Moura 3 - The hero of Amsterdam endured a disappointing final season in North London. Sent off against Everton minutes after coming on as a sub and a poor touch that led to Liverpool snatching a dramatic late win were the lowlights. Both results cost Spurs dear in their push for a European spot, though he did leave fans with one more memory with a solo goal in the 4-1 win against Leeds on the final day. PA
  • Dejan Kulusevski 6 - A fit and firing Kulusevski gets the team up the pitch and causes problems for opposition defenders. Spurs didn't seen enough of either from the Swede this season. Getty
    Dejan Kulusevski 6 - A fit and firing Kulusevski gets the team up the pitch and causes problems for opposition defenders. Spurs didn't seen enough of either from the Swede this season. Getty
  • Arnaut Danjuma 4 - The Dutch winger was afforded few opportunities to showcase his talents following a January loan from Villarreal. PA
    Arnaut Danjuma 4 - The Dutch winger was afforded few opportunities to showcase his talents following a January loan from Villarreal. PA
  • Son Heung-min 5 - Much was expected from the South Korean this term after finishing joint-top Premier League scorer the previous campaign. His highlight was a 13-minute hat-trick against Leicester after coming on as a sub. PA
    Son Heung-min 5 - Much was expected from the South Korean this term after finishing joint-top Premier League scorer the previous campaign. His highlight was a 13-minute hat-trick against Leicester after coming on as a sub. PA
  • Richarlison 4 - Spurs fans questioned whether the £50 million plus to acquire the Brazilian from Everton could have been better spent. On the evidence of his first season in North London, the answer is a resounding 'yes'. Getty
    Richarlison 4 - Spurs fans questioned whether the £50 million plus to acquire the Brazilian from Everton could have been better spent. On the evidence of his first season in North London, the answer is a resounding 'yes'. Getty
  • Harry Kane 9 - On a personal level, Kane enjoyed a great season. The England striker broke Jimmy Greaves' long-standing goals record for the club and Kane's 30 Premier League goals came against 25 teams - a record for a 38-game season. Seems unthinkable he will sign a new contract at Spurs and the club must decide whether to cash in on their prized asset this summer or risk losing him for nothing next. PA
    Harry Kane 9 - On a personal level, Kane enjoyed a great season. The England striker broke Jimmy Greaves' long-standing goals record for the club and Kane's 30 Premier League goals came against 25 teams - a record for a 38-game season. Seems unthinkable he will sign a new contract at Spurs and the club must decide whether to cash in on their prized asset this summer or risk losing him for nothing next. PA

“We were delighted to bring Ange to Celtic. He is a special manager who has had success wherever he has been and someone who brought to the club attacking, stylish and winning football in the best traditions of Celtic.

“Of course, we are disappointed that Ange has decided to leave the club, and we did all we could to keep him with us well into the future. But he wanted to take this new opportunity and we wish Ange well in this and everything else he does.”

Postecoglou described being given the opportunity to manager Celtic as “an honour” as the club announced his exit. “They wanted me to extend my time at Celtic and while I am so respectful and understanding of their position, a new opportunity has been presented to me and it is one which I wanted to explore,” he added.

“Our supporters have been magnificent to me and I thank them for the way they have embraced me during the past two years. My ambition was always to give our fans a team they could be proud of, a team people talked about and I think we have achieved that.”

Postecoglou managed the Australian national team from 2013-17 and his former employers offered their congratulations on his new role.

“This appointment is a personal triumph for Ange and his family, and we are absolutely delighted for them,” said Football Australia chief executive James Johnson.

“This new chapter at Spurs for Ange is a testament to his enduring determination, skill, and vision as a leader.

“It is also a moment of great pride for Australian football and highlights this current golden age as we see more of our coaches making an impact on football around the globe and a steady presence of players across European leagues, particularly in Britain.”

Updated: June 06, 2023, 10:39 AM